Loew's Jersey Theatre

Loew’s Jersey Theatre opened in 1929 and is one of the five “Loew’s’Wonder Theatres” in the New York area, offering both films and stage performances. The building was designed by the architecture firm Rapp & Rapp using Spanish Baroque and Italian Rococo influences. By 1968 the theatre transitioned to only showing movies, even trifurcating the theatre in 1974 so three movies could be played at once. The theatre finally closed in 1986. Mounting concerns over potential demolition resulted in the founding of Jersey City and the Friends of the Loew’s Jersey Theatre, who worked to repair theatre beginning in the 1990s. The building was purchased by the Jersey City Government in 1993, and reopened in 2001. The building was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 1985, as well as the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.

A comprehensive historic restoration was launched again in 2021 and is currently underway. EverGreene was engaged to restore the decorative plaster and extraordinary finishes in the auditorium, lobby, hallways, stairs, and the lounges of the theatre. EverGreene has previously worked on two other Wonder Theatres: the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and the United Palace in Manhattan.

A detailed plaster survey and condition assessment was performed to identify areas of deterioration and inform required stabilization and repair work. Paint samples were analyzed to identify historic color schemes and inform the creation of an updated color palate. In addition to flat and decorative plaster elements, the scagliola columns are undergoing cleaning and restoration treatments as part of the Lobby restoration.